Improvement in express-calls



L. M. RING-WALT, & c. s. L-AMPREY.

EXPRESS-CALLS.

FIG'QGI N.FETER5, PMOTO-UTHDGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

- LANSING M. RINGWALT AND CLARENCE s. LAMPREY, 0 CINCINNATI, onto.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPRESS-CALLS.

Spccilicationforming part of Letters Patent No. 178,674, dated June 13, 1876; application filed November 8, 1875. I

To all whom 'it'may concern:

Be it known that we; LANSING M. RING- WALT and CLARENCE S. LAMPnEY, both of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Express-Gall or Signal- Box, of which the following is a specification Our invention relates to a call or signalbox, intended' to be placed conspicuously on a store, or other business house, for the noti-.

fication of express-drivers.

The call consists essentially of a frame, box, or housing,within which are journale'd a number of horizontal drums, cylinders, or rollers, one roller for each express company and marked with its name. In the normal position of each roller its blank or-uninscribed surface is presented to view, said rollers being held in this position by means of suitable spiral or helical springs, which are adapted to exercise both a torsional and a' longitudinal pressure upon their respective rollers. These springs cause a stud, that projects from the end of each respective roller, to engage within a locking device which is concealed in the frame or housing, and as said stud cannot be disengaged until the proper key is applied to the roller-arbor, it is evident that the device cannot be tampered with so as to expose a call improperly. The same key which disena perspective view ofour express-"call, the

same comprising a frame provided with a I series of rollers, .of which two are represented in their normal or blank position, while two' others expose their calls, and still another is in .the act of being rotated by means of the key. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the rollers in its normal position. Fig. 3 is a similar section, but showing the roller shifted longitudinally by the key, preparatory to the rotation of said drum for the purpose of exposing its call. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing one end of a drum or roller with its locking mechanism separated, so as to expose the operative parts of the same. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the locking mechanism, the roller being shown in its normal position. Fig. 6 is a similar elevation, but showing theroller in.

the act of being rotated so .as' to bring the inscription or call to view. Fig. 7 represents the position the various operati e parts assume when the roller has made one-fourth of a revolution and is locked, so as to expose the call.

A represents the base,-B the top, 0 one side, and D D the other side, of a suitable-box, lrame, or housing, within which are fitted the various operating parts of the device. E

are the drums, rollers, or cylinders of any suitable dimensions and material, and either solid or hollow, as may be preferred. These rollers are journaled in suitable circular excavations F F, which'are made in the opposing surfaces of the sides 0 and D of theframe. Each roller is furnished at one endwith a short gudgeon, G, around which. is .coiled a spiral spring, H, of which one endis secured to the frame 0,

while the other end is attached to the roller. (See Fig. 2.) The frame 0 is chambered out,

as at I, so as to receive the gudgeon G, and to allow free torsional and longitudinal play of the spiral spring H. This gudgeon is supplemented, at the other end of the roller, by a square or'other non-circular arbor or shaft, J, which occupies a central position in the keyhole K of the frame side D D. Projecting from the same end of the roller, and at a suitable distance above the arbor J, is a stud or pin, L, which is adapted to traverse the slot M of frame D, and then to enter the aperture N of plate 0, the latter being secured to the inner surface of side D, as shown at Fig. 4. The aforesaid slot M is concentric with the axis of the roller E, and it passes through, from the excavation F, to the recess P of frame D, which recess contains a detent B, shouldered at S, and attached to a sliding spring-bolt, T, whose exposed end carries a knob or button, U. The parts R S T U constitute my springcatch before spoken of. V

are slats of any suitable shape to fill the interstices between the consecutive rollers, and j of such length as to extend from one side to the other of the frame, in which they occupy suitable sockets. W is a removable key, whose barrel is adapted to engage with the arbor J. (See Figs. 3, 6, and 7.)

To illustrate the manner of using our call we will suppose that the blank or nnlette'red sides of the rollers E are exposed to view, the studs L, in this normal condition of the device, passing completely through the concentric slot M and entering the aperture N of plate 0, as represented in Fig. 2. Therollers are maintained in this normal position by the stress of their springs H, and it is evident that neither roller can be rotated so as to indicatea call until it is first shifted longitudinally toward the frame 0, so as to disengage the stud L from its retaining-socket N. This act, however, can be accomplished only by the instrumentality of the key W, by means of which the rolleris first pressed longitudinaUy away from the framepost D -D toward the side 0, the spring H being thereby compressed in the chamber ,1, and the stud Lcoznpletely with drawn from its retaining-socket N (See Fig. 3.) The roller having made about onet'onrth ofa revolution, the stud L arrives at the lower end of'slot M, and, simultaneously therewith, the retaining device R T flies forward, so as to engage the shoulder S over the'stnd L, and thereby to lock the roller E in its new position, as shown in Fig. 7. In this position of the roller, its inscription orcall is completely exposed to view, and will so remain until released by the compression of the stud or knob U. This call being capable of being set only by its proper key, cannot be tampered with by mischievous or irresponsible hands.

While describing the preferred form of our invention, we reserve the right to modify the same in non-essential particulars. For examwith a glass. The knobs may form parts of ornaments upon the frame, which ornaments may be duplicated on the other side for the double purpose of appearance and secrecy.

Other locking devices may be employed in conjunction with our rollers and operating key.

The pin L may be superseded by a segmental projection from the;end of the roller. The various operating parts may be situated either to the right or left, and may. operate either forward or backward, and by pulling instead of thrusting action, or vice versa. The inclosing frame or housing can be made of castiron, and the operative parts be boxed in any suitable manner andinserted in said frame.

We claim as new and of our invention- I. An express-call, consisting of an inclosing box, frame, or housing, within which are journaled a series of rollers, suitably inscribed on one side, and capable of rotation, so as to expose or conceal said inscriptions, the rollers,

when thus rotated in either direction, being positively locked in position, substantially as herein described and setforth.

"2. The combination of housing A B G FD F M, longitudinally shit'table, and rotatable rollers E G J, spiral spring H, and locking devices N S T, as and for the purposes designated.

In testimony of unto set our hands.

LANSING RI NGWALT. CLARENCE s. LAMPREY.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, HARRY E. Kmen'r.

which invention we here- 

